Health Professions Advising Program

Changes effective Fall Term 2014

Zimmerman

Medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, podiatry, and other professional schools seek students with a broad education who can handle the rigors of basic science courses. The Health Professions Advising Program uses an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for graduate study. While the program highlights the necessary preprofessional courses (science, math, and English), it also encourages students to major in liberal arts disciplines consistent with their interests and talents. Students should consider nontraditional health-related majors (such as history or philosophy), as well as fields like biology and chemistry.

Faculty from the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences serve on the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC), which coordinates the program. HPAC sponsors the following activities:

generating and disseminating data about health careers;

staying in touch with regional health professional schools;

advising pre-health student organizations;

promoting student interaction with community professionals and health organizations;

providing a forum for discussion of problems, concerns, and stresses associated with preparation for professional school;

advising students on course selection and the value of extracurricular and experiential activities;

interviewing and evaluating each preprofessional junior who completes the HPAP requirements; and

writing a committee evaluation for each student who completes the HPAP requirements.

THE CURRICULUM

Medical, dental, optometry, and podiatry schools specify a fairly uniform set of entrance requirements. Prerequisites vary for veterinary medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, etc. Students should seek out information on individual schools of interest, and confirm entrance requirement information with the health professions program advisor.

Choose at least one of the following:One Psychology CourseOne Sociology or Anthropology Course One Ethics Course (PHI 108 or PHI 290)

First-year students should meet with the advisor of the health professions program as soon as possible to plan their pre-professional curriculum.

ADDITIONAL COURSES OCCASIONALLY OFFERED:

HPA 150 Careers in Health Sciences: Explores various careers in the health sciences including human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, and other related fields. Provides students with information about the scope of disciplines through lectures, student research, and guest speakers from the medical fields. Requirements for successful application to programs and specific issues in medicine are discussed.

HPA 175F International Medical Service-Learning Field Experience: Through this international healthcare experience, students will explore how global citizenship, responsible leadership, and healthcare advocacy are related through clinical practice, theory, and reflection on being a healthcare professional. Course fee required. Prerequisites: application process, completion of HPA 150, and instructor's consent.

HPA 397 Health Sciences Internship: Students interested in health-related careers should gain practical experience through summer or volunteer work. With HPA support, juniors may plan academic internships with working practitioners for credit.